CoSNCoSN fundamentally believes that effective use of technology requires a global understanding and perspective; one of the ways we pursue this perspective is by organizing International Delegations to see ICT in action throughout the world. A CoSN Senior Delegation is currently exploring India; their packed agenda will take them to Delhi, Agra, Bangalore, Kuppam and Chennai for meetings with government officials, visits to schools, and discussions with leading NGOs. Click here to follow along on the delegation's blog. READ MORE

CoSNLooking to jump-start your career?
Make 2016 the year you get certified! We're offering two new courses to help fit CETL™ certification into your busy life.

The National CETL™ Study Course will be hosted virtually to allow you to work with peers from across the country. The group will meet weekly from Jan. 6 until April 4.

If you'd rather study in person, sign up for our second annual CETL™ Immersion Course. The Immersion Course will be held April 2-3 in Washington, D.C., immediately before the Annual Conference.READ MORE

CIOThe digital revolution is upon us. Consumers are demanding improved services, and technology enables this. With just a few clicks on our smartphone or tablet we can shop online, check out restaurants, text our pizza orders, deposit checks and request cabs. Educators are beginning to see the benefit of incorporating technology in the classroom as well. One CIO leading the charge is Serena Sacks from the Fulton County School System in Atlanta. With 14,000 employees, the school system provides K-12 education for over 96,000 students in 101 schools across 13 cities. Sacks and her team have made tremendous strides in accomplishing their No. 1 goal: help students learn to their full potential. To do that, they're leveraging technology in innovative ways.READ MORE

THE JournalA frequent conflict that educators have with their IT departments is over access to content for students — content that's often being blocked at the behest of administrators and parents. And many IT directors are becoming less interested in being stuck in the middle. But often IT directors who want more control are trying to protect educators and students from not only what can be seen on the Internet but often what is not seen (viruses, adware and malware). Is there a compromise that can address all the needs while still protecting everyone?READ MORE

Education WeekAffordable Internet service and cost-effective access to related infrastructure remain major hurdles for schools, although access to fiber-optic cables and faster wireless networks is improving, according to a new survey of school district leaders. "While progress is happening, policymakers and educators will need to keep their eyes focused on continued investments in robust, reliable education networks ... to enable digital learning and address issues of digital equity," Keith Krueger, the CEO of the Consortium for School Networking, writes in the group's third annual "E-rate and Infrastructure" report.READ MORE

By: Savanna Flakes The goal of assessment is to improve instruction and provide student feedback. However, many assessments take so much time to administrator and grade that teachers aren't able to use the data immediately. Studies have been conducted on the benefits of using assessment as a resource to help students learn and self-monitor their growth. Thus, assessment doesn't just help teachers, it also supports students in understanding their learning. Enter tech tools and resources.READ MORE

EdTech MagazineWith December fast approaching, it's been nearly one year since the Federal Communication Commission cast its historic vote to update the E-Rate program with additional funding and streamlined application processes. What can change in a year? A lot, says Keith Krueger, CEO of the Consortium for School Networking. But serious blockages continue to slow progress toward the White House's ConnectED goal of having 99 percent of all schools connected to broadband by 2018. "While progress is happening, policymakers and educators will need to keep their eyes focused on continued investments in robust, reliable education networks with broadband access and Wi-Fi to enable digital learning and address issues of digital equity," says Krueger.READ MORE

District Administration MagazineDevelopers created some of the world's most recognized software in garages and college dorms. The same do-it-yourself spirit thrives today across public education. School innovators customize software that ranges from small applications used within a single classroom to programs that support a district's full administrative functions. Districts build their own software when they can't buy the product they want, when existing programs don't provide the adequate functionality — and to save money.READ MORE

The AtlanticEvery few months, a new study claims that gadgets in the classroom don't improve learning — but that hasn't stopped the educational technology market's steady upward climb. The ed-tech market totaled $8.38 billion in the 2012-2013 academic year, the most recent year the Education Technology Industry Network has such information available. That number is up from $7.9 billion the year before, and up 11.7 percent from 2009, when the network began compiling these annual reports.READ MORE

EdSurgeNearly all teachers are now using digital tools in the classroom, but according to a recent study from the Gates Foundation, most aren't satisfied with the effectiveness of those tools. That's not entirely surprising: the edtech community hasn't historically been intentional about giving teachers a seat at the table. Rather than spending time in the classrooms or designing tools that respond to the needs of teachers, edtech giants design solutions that "work great, if only we could get teachers to use them properly!"READ MORE

eSchool NewsA new report urges care when purchasing digital instructional materials, and notes that factors such as interoperability, accessibility and device access should be considered during the process. Navigating the Digital Shift: Mapping the Acquisition of Digital Instructional Materials, a SETDA report, provides information and guidance on the process of digital instructional materials acquisition. The report notes that navigating the procurement process is cited as one of the primary challenges for states and districts, and one that proves even more challenging to the companies that want to sell digital instructional materials to them.READ MORE

Tech&Learning (commentary)Adam Schoenbart, a contributor for Tech&Learning, writes; "The answer is always a Google Form. The problem, question, or situation doesn't really matter; Google Forms is the answer. It's the most powerful and versatile of all Google Apps, and can be used for a variety of purposes: data collection, assessment, feedback, sign up/RSVP, and so many more. Once you consider forms and sheets add-ons, the potential for forms to help with organization and communication is unlimited. I'm being hyperbolic for sure, but I could write a blog just on forms with new content for teachers regularly ... and maybe I will."READ MORE

By: Archita Datta Majumdar K-12 school libraries across the country are gearing up for some big changes. As the haven for student knowledge, school libraries will be offering intense learning environments to all students that will be focused on enhancing the regular student workload and improving student performance. These modern library resources will include everything from academic databases to e-books, as well as innovative programs to help students expand their knowledge base.READ MORE

NPRFourteen-year-old Yasemine Dursun is an aspiring entrepreneur. Her invention is called the Slapwrap, a braceletlike device for storing earbuds. In a cacophonous hallway crowded with her classmates, she launches into her pitch: "If you're washing your hands, water can get on your buds and damage them," the ninth-grader explains. "They can dangle and pick up dirt. This is kind of disgusting, but it can cause acne." Yasemine came up with her idea for keeping earbuds stored and neat in a class at the Incubator School, a new public school in Los Angeles that focuses on STEM, entrepreneurship, gaming and a collaborative approach to learning.READ MORE

MindShiftThe digital landscape of American childhood is in flux, according to surveys: Most children under the age of 8 now have access to mobile devices in their homes. In the last five years, children have spent less time watching television, but more time tapping on tablets and smartphones. And recently the American Academy of Pediatrics has softened its zero-screentime recommendation for children under 2.READ MORE